Cathi Jesse said she’s heard stories about at least one vehicle that must’ve witnessed the collision — it was driving behind Salvino right before the wreck — but had continued traveling after the crash. She said she’s heard rumors about perhaps another vehicle that caused her son to swerve into oncoming traffic.

“We just can’t imagine that no one could have seen what happened,” Torres said.

It was Brandon Jesse’s disarming grin that caught people’s attention, his family says.

Torres remembers it well. When she met Jesse through a mutual friend about two years ago, she said, the two felt an instant connection.

“The moment I met him, I knew he’d be in my life forever,” Torres said. “Lately, we had tossed around the idea of marriage.”

At that mention, Cathi Jesse bowed her head.

“He talked about buying an engagement ring,” she said softly.

Torres rubbed her back in comfort.

Christian Jesse was 6 years older than his little brother. He found himself having to step into a more nurturing role since the boys’ mother had to work more than one job to put food on the table.

“He pretty much grew up by my side,” Christian Jesse said. “I watched out for Brandon almost his entire life.”

Brandon Jesse was more reserved than his older brother, but he was warmhearted and his smile said it all, according to the elder Jesse.

“No matter what the mood was in the room, he could change it in an instant,” Christian Jesse said.

Cathi Jesse remembers that during the 26-year-old’s viewing, the grin was still there.

“Even in death,” she said. “At the viewing, a lot of people came up to me and said, ‘He still has that grin.’ There were a lot of people there. He obviously touched so many lives.”

‘Tears in their eyes’

SEEKING ANSWERSThe Jesse family has set up a post office box for anyone with information about the crash that killed Brandon Jesse on Aug. 6.

Send tips to:
Cathi Jesse
PO Box #73
Pen Argyl, PA 18072

Only a few months before his death, Brandon Jesse had started working in construction, helping to build the hockey arena in downtown Allentown. It was hard labor, but Cathi Jesse said despite how exhausted and sore he’d be when he came home, he truly took pleasure in the work.

“He enjoyed contributing to such a big project,” Torres said. “He felt like he’d be able to look back and say, I was part of that.'"

It wasn’t until dozens of men from the construction unions came to the funeral that Cathi Jesse realized how many people knew her son. She said the men spoke about Brandon’s willingness to pitch in and how he’d never complain.

“There were a lot of grown men (at the viewing) with tears in their eyes,” Cathi Jesse said.

Contributions taken from Ironworkers Local No. 36 and the Allentown office of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers helped the Jesse family pay for the funeral expenses they’d not expected. Brandon had not been working long enough to qualify for life insurance benefits. Even Christian Jesse’s co-workers at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem helped contribute, the family said.

“They were all so very, very good to us,” Cathi Jesse said.

Even after the funeral, the grieving mother said, she was struck by the kind words of strangers. A neighbor, with whom she never spoke, approached her one day and told her how sorry he was and how many nice conversations he’d had with Brandon about cars and kids.

“I didn’t even know he knew him,” Cathi Jesse said, her voice cracking with emotion. “What he said to me meant so much because he didn’t have to do it. There’s a lot of people I never knew (Brandon) had affected.”

‘We just want answers’

The Jesses set up a post office box in the hopes that people who might have information about the Aug. 6 crash will come forward. Cathi Jesse said she’s hopeful the anonymity will encourage honesty.

“We’re not looking for someone to fault,” Torres said. “We just want information. We just want answers.”

The night before the crash, Christian and Tiffany Jesse held a family party celebrating Kira’s first year of preschool.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen the next day, but God did,” said Cathi Jesse of the impromptu gathering.

It was the last time the family would be together before Brandon died.

“I remember him sitting there, with Kira, on the grass. Me and Sharina were watching them look at the stars,” Tiffany Jesse said. “That’s the last picture I have in my head of him.”

They’ve all decided that they’ll do whatever they can to remind little Kira of her uncle, so she’ll remember, too.

“We don’t want Brandon to be forgotten and that’s tough for a 2-year-old,” said the toddler’s grandmother.